Sword - Tamahagane - Japan - Early Edo period

A unsigned, early Edo period wakizashi-tantō (knife). It fits snugly in the hand, making it an ideal pocket dagger in both size and form. The sharpened blade is sound and free of defects, and it is housed in a chestnut-brown scabbard with a handle finished in a blue-luster shell speckled (blue-gold) lacquer, all set in a chic, matching brass fittings. It embodies the refined dignity of a cherished collectible that might once have been privately carried by samurai or high-ranking individuals, preserving that elegance to this day.

Form, Workmanship and condition
- A small, compact hira-zukuri (flat-ground) blade characteristic of pocket daggers. The width is modest relative to the blade, yet the piece feels substantial in hand. The lines are clean and restrained, revealing the skilled craftsmanship of the period. The blade shows an exceptionally clear hada (grain) and temper. The jigane has well-packed ko-itame (small central pattern) with a smooth, refined surface. The hamon is bright with a delicate ko-midare (small irregularities) and features fine ko-nie (small tempering beads) along the edge, with subtle tempering variations such as gentle ashi (blade curvature) and a calm nioiguchi (odor of the steel). The nakago is ubu (original) and, despite being unsigned, bears a beautiful chestnut-brown patina that quietly tells of the years passing.

The mounting
- The greatest charm and highlight of this piece is its Edo-period koshiguchi (gö-cho) mounting. It is a product of the era’s aesthetic sensibilities. The scabbard is finished in a deep chestnut-brown lacquer, and the blade’s handle is adorned with sprinkled blue-luster shell (aogai) in a black ground lacquer to create a striking shine. The fuchi-kashira (ring and cap) and kurigata (claw) fittings are all brass, presenting a warm, cohesive harmony. Even the mekugi (pegging peg) is not made of bamboo or wood; rather, it is a brass, western-style screw-pinned fitting used in harmony with the rest. The attention to detail and the sophisticated, original design reflect the owner’s refined aesthetic and the tasteful sensibilities that still resonate today.

Specifications
Species: Tantō (flat-ground)/Pocket dagger
Mei (signature): unsigned ( ubu nakago )
Era: Early Edo period
Construction: hira-zukuri
Blade length: 20.4 cm
Sori (curvature): 0 cm
Motohaba (sword width at the base): 22.8 mm
Motokasane (base thickness): 6 mm
Weight (blade only): 130 g
Weight (without scabbard): 180 g

Registration & Legal Documentation
- All swords offered by our shop come with an official government-issued registration certificate (Zaiho Token Laws Registration Certificate). This certificate confirms that the blade is legally registered within Japan. Note that this certificate does not authenticate or certify the bladesmith, the mei, or the attribution to a particular maker.